In The Ending Of The Year
In hoc anni circulo
See also:
Verbum
caro factum est de virgin
Version 2
Compare: In The Ending Of The Year -
Version 1 by John Mason Neale, Carols for Christmas-tide (1853)
In The Ending Of The
Year - Version 3 by John Mason Neale, Medieval
Hymns (1863)
For Christmas
Words:
In hoc anni circulo,
German
Anonymous, ca. 12th Century
Translation, alt., by Rev.
John Mason Neale
from Medieval Hymns (1863)
Source: George Radcliffe Woodward, ed., Songs of Syon (London: Schott & Co., Third Edition, 1908), # 26
1. In the ending of the year
Light and life to man appear:
And the Holy Babe is here,
By the Virgin Mary.
For the Word becometh flesh
By the Virgin Mary.
What in ancient days was slain,
This day calls to life again:
God is coming, God shall reign—
By the Virgin Mary.
For the Word becometh flesh
By the Virgin Mary.
What in ancient days was slain,
This day calls to life again:
God is coming, God shall reign—
By the Virgin Mary.
2. Adam ate the fruit and died,
But the curse, that did betide
All his sons, is turn’d aside
By the Virgin Mary.
For the Word becometh flesh
By the Virgin Mary.
What in ancient days was slain,
This day calls to life again:
God is coming, God shall reign—
By the Virgin Mary.
3. Noe shut the Ark of old,
When the flood came, as is told:
Us its doors to-day enfold
By the Virgin Mary.
For the Word becometh flesh
By the Virgin Mary.
What in ancient days was slain,
This day calls to life again:
God is coming, God shall reign—
By the Virgin Mary.
4. Every creature of the plain
Own’d the guileful serpent’s reign;
He this happy day is slain
By the Virgin Mary.
For the Word becometh flesh
By the Virgin Mary.
What in ancient days was slain,
This day calls to life again:
God is coming, God shall reign—
By the Virgin Mary.
5. ‘Twas the Star the Sun that bore,
Which salvation should restore;
But pollution ne’er the more
Touch’d the Virgin Mary.
For the Word becometh flesh
By the Virgin Mary.
What in ancient days was slain,
This day calls to life again:
God is coming, God shall reign—
By the Virgin Mary.
6. And they circumcise the Lord,
And his Blood for us is pour’d
Thus salvation is restored
By the Virgin Mary.
For the Word becometh flesh
By the Virgin Mary.
What in ancient days was slain,
This day calls to life again:
God is coming, God shall reign—
By the Virgin Mary.
7. In a manger he is laid:
Ox and ass their worship paid;
Over him her veil is spread
By the Virgin Mary.
For the Word becometh flesh
By the Virgin Mary.
What in ancient days was slain,
This day calls to life again:
God is coming, God shall reign—
By the Virgin Mary.
8. And the heav’nly Angels’ tongue
“Glory in the highest” sung;
And the shepherds o’er him hung,
With the Virgin Mary.
For the Word becometh flesh
By the Virgin Mary.
What in ancient days was slain,
This day calls to life again:
God is coming, God shall reign—
By the Virgin Mary.
9. Joseph watches o’er his rest:
Cold and sorrow him infest:
He, an hung’red, seeks the breast
Of the Virgin Mary.
For the Word becometh flesh
By the Virgin Mary.
What in ancient days was slain,
This day calls to life again:
God is coming, God shall reign—
By the Virgin Mary.
10. Wherefore let our quire to-day
Banish sorrow far away,
Singing and exulting aye
With the Virgin Mary.
For the Word becometh flesh
By the Virgin Mary.
What in ancient days was slain,
This day calls to life again:
God is coming, God shall reign—
By the Virgin Mary.
Notes:
Additional second verse from Hopkins (below):
2. What in ancient days was slain
This day calls to life again:
God is coming here to reign
By the Virgin Mary.
For the word becomes Flesh
By the Virgin Mary.
The version related by Hopkins does not include the last four lines of each refrain, above.
Sheet Music from J. H. Hopkins, ed., Great Hymns of the Church Compiled by the Late Right Reverend John Freeman Young (New York: James Pott & Company, 1887), #73, pp. 114-5.
"Original Melody
Harmonized by H. R. Schrœder"
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